Rosenberg came from a working-class, Jewish family of Russian emigrants. After leaving school at 14, he worked as an apprentice for Henschel's engraving business in Fleet Street. His talent for art led him to study at the Art School of Birbeck College, London University, where this talent would result in numerous awards. He left Henschel's in 1911 to begin studies at the Slade School of Art, where he continued for two years. In 1914, he moved to South Africa to pursue his career in art and was well-received. When the First World War broke out, Rosenberg decided to return to England, which he did in 1915. At the end of that year he enlisted in the army and took part in a number of engagements over the next two years. He was killed in action at Fampoux in France in 1918. Besides Rosenberg's obvious artistic talent, he had published his first poetry in 1912, entitled Night and Day. He followed this with Youth in 1914. During his military time he produced some of his finest poetry, but a promising literary career was cut short by his early death. |
